Transition code recognition system

ABSTRACT

An electronic identification system for obtaining information from data-encoded labels in which a plurality of contiguous colored bars are printed on the data-encoded labels, each colored bar being of a color different from the color of its neighboring colored bars, is disclosed. The data-encoded label is scanned by a probe which images a spot of light on the label and which receives, from the label, reflected light signals that are supplied to the identification system. The identification system is constructed to receive and to decode a predetermined number of data bits according to a &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;size code&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; that is contained on the label, to perform a parity check of the data bits that are encoded on the label, and to transmit the decoded data to a data utilization device regardless of whether the probe traversed the label in a forward direction or in a reverse direction.

United States Patent Christie et a].

TRANSITION CODE RECOGNITION SYSTEM Inventors: John B, Christie; DzintarsAbuls, both of Kettering; Wilfridus G. Van Breukelen, Centerville, allof Ohio The National Cash Register Company, Dayton, Ohio Filed: June 30,1969 Appl. No.: 837,514

Assignee:

US. Cl. ..235/61.l1 E, 250/219 Q Int.Cl ....G06k 7/10, GOln 21/30 FieldofSearch ..235/6l.11,6l.ll E;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1959 Orthuber ...,235/61.68/1964 Brainerd ..235/6l.l1

Jan. 25, 1972 Stites et a1. ..235/61.ll Stites et al. ..235/6l.ll

Primary Examiner Daryl W. Cook Atlorney-Louis A. Kline, John J. Callahanand Harry W. Barron [57] ABSTRACT An electronic identification systemfor obtaining information from data-encoded labels in which a pluralityof contiguous colored bars are printed on the data-encoded labels, eachcolored bar being of a color different from the color of its neighboringcolored bars, is disclosed. The data-encoded label is scanned by a probewhich images a spot oflight on the label and which receives, from thelabel, reflected light signals that are supplied to the identificationsystem. The identification system is constructed to receive and todecode a predetermined number of data bits according to a size code"that is contained on the label, to perform a parity check of the databits that are encoded on the label, and to transmit the decoded data toa data utilization device regardless of whether the probe traversed thelabel in a forward direction or in a reverse direction.

37 Claims, 23 Drawing Figures PAIENTEI] JAN25 I972 SHEET IBM 20 HI IWIBG 725 -v.I/II I 5 IIII Iwisisi :w I8 I GI I 720 A I 734 $H' I BIO I 727I W ?3| 7 I 729\\E 728 I S I I I IWIBIGI HIM I II\I I lHA/x INVENTORSJOHN B. CHRISTIE DZINTARS ABULS a WILFRIDUS G. VAN BREUKELEN THEIRATTORNEYS PATENTEUJANZSIBYZ 3537393 SHEET UHF 20 FIG. 5B

INVENTORS JOHN B. CHRISTIE DZINTARS ABULS 8| WILFRIDUS G. VAN BREUKELENTHEIR ATTORNE YS PATENIED M25 :972

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1. An identification system comprising: a. a data-encoded medium thatcomprises a plurality of data indicia wherein each data indicium isselected from a group of three or more data indicia, and each dataindicium is different from its neighboring data indicia, and b. means tosense data indicia in pairs as a transition of the sensing means acrossa first data indicium of the pair to a second data indicium of the pairoccurs, and c. means coupled to the sensing means that is constructed toremember the first data indicium of the pair until the second dataindicium of the pair is sensed, and to generate a signal that isrepresentative of the associated binary bit based on the particularfirst and the second data indicia which were sensed.
 2. Anidentification and validation system comprising: a. a data-encodedmedium that includes a plurality of data indicia wherein each dataindicium is selected from a group of three or more data indicia, andeach data indicium is different from its neighboring data indicia, b.means to sense data indicia in pairs as a transition of the sensingmeans across a first data indicium of the pair to a second data indiciumof the pair occurs, and c. means coupled to the sensing means that isconstructed to remember the first data indicium of the pair until thesecond data indicium of the pair is sensed, and to generate a signalthat is representative of an associated binary bit based on theparticular first and second data indicia which were sensed, wherein afirst group of size code binary bits are sensed first, the value of thefIrst group of size code bits being representative of the number of databinary bits that are encoded on the medium, the data bits are sensedsecond, and a second group of size code binary bits are sensed third,the recorded values of the first and second groups of size code bits onthe data-encoded medium being equal, said system further including: d.memory means coupled to receive the bits that are sensed from adata-encoded medium that is constructed to store all of the binary bitssensed from the medium, and e. means constructed to produce anend-of-medium signal after the last recorded binary bit of the mediumhas been sensed by the sensing means, and f. validation means coupled tothe memory means and to the end-of-medium signal producing means that isconstructed to signify that a properly encoded medium has been correctlysensed when the end-of-medium signal is produced and the first andsecond groups of size code bits that are stored in the memory means areequal.
 3. A validation system for an identification system as in claim 2wherein: a. a first parity bit and a second parity bit are sensed fromthe encoded medium and are stored in the memory means, and b. means arecoupled to the memory means and to the validation means that areconstructed to couple a parity check signal to the validation means whenthe first and second parity bits and the data bits that are stored inthe memory means correspond to a predetermined parity standard, thevalidation means being constructed so that it will not signify that aproperly encoded medium has been correctly sensed until the parity checksignal is generated.
 2. means to guide reflected light signal from themedium, and
 2. means constructed to remember the signal that isassociated with a first color bar until a signal that is associated witha second colored bar is produced, and to generate a signal that isrepresentative of the associated binary bit based upon the particularfirst and second colored bars which were sensed.
 3. signal-splittingmeans which are coupled to receive the reflected signals that are guidedfrom the medium by the guide means of the sensing means, thesignal-splitting means being constructed to produce a first light-signalcomponent, which is substantially reflected from both the first and thesecond colors of the colored bars of the medium, and a secondlight-signal component, which is substantially reflected from only thefirst color of the colored bars of the medium, neither the first nor thesecond light-signal components being substantially reflected from thethird color of the colored bars of the medium, and f. wherein the meanscoupled to the sensing means includes
 4. An identification systemcomprising: a. a data-encoded medium that includes a plurality of dataindicia wherein each data indicium is selected from a group of three ormore indicia, and each data indicium is different from its neighboringdata indicia, b. means to sense data indicia in pairs as a transition ofthe sensing means across a first data indicium of the pair to a seconddata indicium of the pair occurs, and c. means coupled to the sensingmeans that is constructed to remember the first data indicium of thepair until the second data indicium of the pair is sensed, and togenerate a signal that is representative of the associated binary bitbased on the particular first and second data indicia which were sensed,d. wherein a portion of the sensed binary bits indicate whether thetransition of the sensing means across the data indicia was in thenormal forward direction or whether it was in the opposite, or reverse,direction, and e. wherein the means coupled to the sensing means is soconstructed that the signal that is representative of the associatedbinary bit is, in addition, based on the direction of transition of thesensing means across the data indicia.
 5. A validation system for anidentification system as in claim 4 wherein a first group of size codebinary bits are sensed first, the value of the first group of size codebits being representative of the number of data binary bits that areencoded on the medium, the data bits are sensed second, and a secondgroup of size code binary bits are sensed third, the recorded values ofthe first and second groups of size code bits on the data-encoded mediumbeing equal, comprising: a. memory means coupled to receive the bitsthat are sensed from a data-encoded medium that is constructed to storeall of the binary bits sensed from the medium, and b. means constructedto produce an end-of-medium signal after the last recorded binary bit ofthe medium has been sensed by the sensing means, and c. validation meanscoupled to the memory means and to the end-of-medium signal producingmeans that is constructed to signify that a properly encoded medium hasbeen correctly sensed when the end-of-medium signal is produced and thefirst and second groups of size code bits that are stored in the memorymeans are equal.
 6. A validation System for an identification system asin claim 5 wherein: a. a first parity bit and a second parity bit aresensed from the encoded medium and are stored in the memory means, andb. means are coupled to the memory means and to the validation meansthat are constructed to couple a parity check signal to the validationmeans when the first and second parity bits and the data bits that arestored in the memory means correspond to a predetermined paritystandard, the validation means being so constructed that it will notsignify that a properly encoded medium has been correctly sensed untilthe parity check signal is generated.
 7. An identification systemcomprising: a. a data-encoded medium that includes a plurality of dataindicia wherein each data indicium is selected from a group of three ofmore indicia, and each data indicium is different from its neighboringdata indicia, b. means to sense data indicia in pairs as a transition ofthe sensing means across a first data indicium of the pair to a seconddata indicium of the pair occurs, and c. means coupled to the sensingmeans that is constructed to remember the first data indicium of thepair until the second data indicium of the pair is sensed, and togenerate a signal that is representative of the associated binary bitbased on the particular first and second data indicia which were sensed,d. wherein the data indicia consists of a plurality of contiguouscolored bars, each colored bar being of a first, a second, or a thirdcolor, and each colored bar being of a color different from the color ofits neighboring colored bars, and e. the sensing means includes
 8. Avalidation system for an identification system as in claim 7 wherein afirst group of size code binary bits are sensed first, the value of thefirst group of size code bits being representative of the number of databinary bits that are encoded on the medium, the data bits are sensedsecond, and a second group of size code binary bits are sensed third,the recorded values of the first and second groups of size code bits onthe data-encoded medium being equal, comprising: a. memory means coupledto receive the bits that are sensed from a data-encoded medium that isconstructed to store all of the binary bits sensed from the medium, andb. means constructed to produce an end-of-medium signal after the lastrecorded binary bit of the medium has been sensed by the sensing means,and c. validation means coupled to the memory means and to theend-of-medium signal producing means that is constructed to signify thata properly encoded medium has beeN correctly sensed when theend-of-medium signal is produced and the first and second groups of sizecode bits that are stored in the memory means are equal.
 9. A validationsystem for an identification system as in claim 8 wherein: a. a firstparity bit and a second parity bit are sensed from the encoded mediumand are stored in the memory means, and b. means are coupled to thememory means and to the validation means that are constructed to couplea parity check signal to the validation means when the first and secondparity bits and the data bits that are stored in the memory meanscorrespond to a predetermined parity standard, the validation meansbeing so constructed that it will not signify that a properly encodedmedium has been correctly sensed until the parity check signal isgenerated.
 10. An identification system as in claim 7 wherein: a. aportion of the sensed binary bits indicate whether the transition of thesensing means across the data indicia was in the normal forwarddirection or whether it was in the opposite, or reverse, direction, andb. the means coupled to the sensing means is so constructed that thesignal that is representative of the associated binary bit is, inaddition, based on the direction of transition of the sensing meansacross the data indicia.
 11. A validation system for an identificationsystem as in claim 10 wherein a first group of size code binary bits aresensed first, the value of the first group of size code bits beingrepresentative of the number of data binary bits that are encoded on themedium, the data bits are sensed second, and a second group of size codebinary bits are sensed third, the recorded values of the first andsecond groups of the size code bits on the data-encoded medium beingequal, comprising: a. memory means coupled to receive the bits that aresensed from a data-encoded medium that is constructed to store all ofthe binary bits sensed from the medium, and b. means constructed toproduce an end-of-medium signal after the last recorded binary bit ofthe medium has been sensed by the sensing means, and c. validation meanscoupled to the memory means and to the end-of-medium signal producingmeans that is constructed to signify that a properly encoded medium hasbeen correctly sensed when the end-of-medium signal is produced and thefirst and second groups of size code bits that are stored in the memorymeans are equal.
 12. A validation system for an identification system asin claim 11 wherein: a. a first parity bit and a second parity bit aresensed from the encoded medium and are stored in the memory means, andb. means are coupled to the memory means and to the validation meansthat are constructed to couple a parity check signal to the validationmeans when the first and second parity bits and the data bits that arestored in the memory means correspond to a predetermined paritystandard, the validation means being so constructed that it will notsignify that a properly encoded medium has been correctly sensed untilthe parity check signal is generated.
 13. A validation system for anidentification system comprising: a. means to sense data indicia thatare recorded on a data-encoded medium, wherein a first group of sizecode binary bits are sensed first, the value of the first group of sizecode bits being representative of the number of data binary bits thatare encoded on the medium, the data bits are sensed second, and a secondgroup of size code binary bits are sensed third, the recorded values ofthe first and second groups of size code bits on the data-encoded mediumbeing equal, and b. memory means coupled to receive the data bits thatare sensed from a data-encoded medium that is constructed to store allof the binary bits sensed from the medium, and c. means constructed toproduce an end-of-medium signal after the last recorded binary bit ofthe medium has been sensed by the sensing means, and d. validation meansCoupled to the memory means and to the end-of-medium signal producingmeans that is constructed to signify that a properly encoded medium hasbeen correctly sensed when the end-of-medium signal is produced and thefirst and second groups of size code bits that are stored in the memorymeans are equal.
 14. A validation system as in claim 13 wherein: a. afirst parity bit and a second parity bit are sensed from the encodedmedium and are stored in the memory means, and b. means are coupled tothe memory means and to the validation means that are constructed tocouple a parity check signal to the validation means when the first andsecond parity bits and the data bits that are stored in the memory meanscorrespond to a predetermined parity standard, the validation meansbeing so constructed that it will not signify that a properly encodedmedium has been correctly sensed until the parity check signal isgenerated.
 15. An identification system comprising: a. a data-encodedmedium that includes a plurality of contiguous indicia in which eachindividual indicium is selected from a group of three or more differentindicia, each one of said indicia having a different detectablecharacteristic, the characteristic of each individual indicium beingdifferent from the characteristic of its neighboring indicium, a datumvalue being defined by each transition from each indicium to the nextcontiguous indicium; b. means to detect the characteristic of eachindicium; and c. decoding means coupled to said detecting means toremember the characteristics of an indicium until the characteristic ofthe next contiguous indicium is detected and to generate an encodedsignal that is representative of the associated datum values of theparticular characteristic relation of each detected contiguous twoindicia.
 16. The invention according to claim 15 in which said indiciacan be detected in either a forward direction or a reverse direction andin which said encoded signal includes at least one direction datum valueindicating the direction in which said indicia are being detected, saiddirection datum value being one value in the event said indicia arebeing detected in the forward direction and another value in the eventsaid indicia are being detected in the reverse direction.
 17. Theinvention according to claim 16 wherein said direction datum valuecauses a direction signal having a value reflecting the direction datumvalue to be provided, said direction signal indicating the direction inwhich said indicia are being detected.
 18. The invention according toclaim 17 wherein said system includes shift register means to which saidencoded signal and said direction signal are applied, one value of saiddirection signal causing said shift register means to shift in onedirection and another value of said direction signal causing said shiftregister means to shift in another direction.
 19. The inventionaccording to claim 18: wherein said different characteristics of saidindicia are first, second, and third different colors; wherein saiddatum values are binary numbers, a first binary number being generatedif the contiguous indicia are detected in the order of first-to-second,second-to-third, or third-to-first colors and a second binary numberbeing generated if the contiguous indicia are detected in the order ofthird-to-second, second-to-first, or first-to-third colors; and whereinone value of said direction signal causes each datum value in saidencoded signal to be complemented.
 20. The invention according to claim19 wherein the first datum value generated when said indicia aredetected in the forward direction results from contiguous first andsubsequent second colors being detected, the last datum value generatedwhen said indicia are detected in the forward direction results fromcontiguous third and subsequent first colors being detected, the firstdatum value generated when said indicia are detected in the reversedireCtion results from contiguous first and subsequent third colorsbeing detected, and the last datum value generated when said indicia aredetected in the reverse direction results from contiguous second andsubsequent first colors being detected.
 21. The invention according toclaim 15: wherein the last indicium detected is detected for a timesubstantially greater than the time at least one other of said indiciais detected; and wherein said system further includes means to sense thetime during which said last indicium is detected in relation to the timeduring which a selected indicium prior thereto is detected, and togenerate a signal indicating that the final indicium has been detected.22. The invention according to claim 15: wherein said encoded signalincludes a plurality of data datum values and a plurality of size codedatum values, said size code datum values being encoded to berepresentative of the number of data datum values in said encodedsignal; and wherein said system further includes memory means forstoring said data datum values and means for recognizing said size codedatum values and for determining whether the number of stored data datumvalues properly corresponds to the code of said size code datum values.23. The invention according to claim 22: wherein said indicia can bedetected in a forward direction or in a reverse direction; and whereinsaid encoded signal has size code datum values preceding and followingsaid data datum values, said indicia on said medium being so arrangedthat the size code datum values will be identical whether said indiciaare detected in a forward direction or in a reverse direction.
 24. Theinvention according to claim 23 wherein said means for recognizing saidsize code datum values recognizes the datum values stored in specifiedlocations of said memory means.
 25. The invention according to claim 24wherein said specified portions of said memory locations store the datumvalues of the size code values following said data datum values.
 26. Theinvention according to claim 25 wherein the code of said size code datumvalues preceding said data datum values is complementary in an oppositedirection to the code of said size code datum values following said datadatum values.
 27. The invention according to claim 26 wherein the codeof said size code datum values preceding said data datum isrepresentative of the number of datum values of said data datum values.28. The invention according to claim 15 wherein said decoding meansincludes means to provide an inhibit signal to inhibit the detection ofany characteristic for a fixed time after a new characteristic is firstdetected.
 29. The invention according to claim 15 wherein said inhibitsignal providing means includes means to provide an indicium-detectedsignal when a new characteristic is first detected, means to delay saidindicium-detected signal a fixed time, and means to inhibit saiddecoding means from detecting any characteristic for said fixed time.30. The invention according to claim 15 wherein said encoded signalincludes a plurality of data datum values and a plurality of other datumvalues, said other datum values including at least two datum valuesforming a parity code which is a function of the remaining datum valuesof said encoded signal.
 31. The invention according to claim 30: whereinsaid datum values are binary digits of 1'''' or ''''0;'''' and whereinthe code of said parity code represents the difference between themodulo 3 sum of the ''''1'''' binary digits of said remaining digits ofsaid encoded signal and the modulo 3 sum of the ''''0'''' binary digitsof said remaining digits of said encoded signal.
 32. An identificationsystem for detecting the binary code defined by a medium having aplurality of contiguous colored indicium thereon, the color of each ofsaid indicia being selected from a group of at least three difFerentcolors, each of said indicia being positioned contiguous to an indiciumof a different color therefrom, each binary digit of said code beingdefined by the transition from an indicium of one color to an indiciumof another color, said system comprising: optical means capable of beingguided over a selected path traversing each of said indicia; detectionmeans to detect the color of each of said indicia along said selectedpath and to provide a signal indicative of the color of the thentraversed one of said indicia; and decoding means to which saiddetection means signal is applied for remembering the color indicated bythe then occurring detection means signal until after the next detectionmeans signal is provided, and to provide a binary digit as determined bythe sequence of said then occurring detection means signal and said nextdetection means signal.
 33. The invention according to claim 32: whereinsaid binary code is divided into consecutive first, second, and thirdportions, said second portion having a plurality of data binary digitsincluded therein, each of said first and third portions including atleast one direction binary digit which is indicative of the direction inwhich said selected path is traversed, and a plurality of binary digitswhich are arranged in a code to represent the number of data binarydigits in said second portion, at least one of said first and thirdportions including a plurality of parity binary digits which arearranged in a code to cause the direction binary digit in each of saidfirst and third portions to be equal; and wherein said identificationsystem further includes memory means to store said binary code, logicmeans responsive to said plurality of size code binary digits in atleast one of said first and third portions of said binary code which arestored in said memory means to determine whether the proper number ofbinary digits of said second portion of said binary code is being storedin said memory means, output shift register means responsive to saidlogic means determining that the proper number of binary digits of saidsecond portion of said binary code are stored in said memory means forproviding an output signal of a fixed sequential number of said binarybits, said output shift register means being responsive to saiddirection binary digit to shift in one direction for one value of saiddirection binary digit and to shift in another direction for the othervalue of said direction binary digit.
 34. A record member for storingdata in combination with means for reading said data comprising: arecord member having a plurality of at least three different indiciameans with each one of said indicia means having detectablecharacteristics associated therewith, said indicia means being assignedto predetermined pair groupings so that each of said pair groupingscontains two different indicia means, some of said pair groupings beingassigned to a first group so that a transition from the first to thesecond indicia means of any pair grouping in the first group in areading direction is indicative of a first datum, the remainder of saidpair groupings being assigned to a second group so that a transitionfrom the first to the second indicia means of any pair grouping in thesecond group in said reading direction is indicative of a second datum,said indicia means being selected from said pair groupings and arrangedon said record medium in a predetermined reading order in a single trackto provide said transitions corresponding to said first and seconddatum, each one of said indicia means being arranged on said recordmember in said predetermined reading order so that the next one of saidindicia means in the direction of said reading order is always differentfrom said one indicia means, each of said indicia means being capable ofoccurring at irregular intervals in said reading order; detecting meansfor providing a signal indicative of the characteristic of the thendetected inDicia means; and logic means, responsive to said detectingmeans signal, for providing a data signal indicative of the successivecharacteristic transition between each pair of indicia means.
 35. Theinvention according to claim 34 wherein each of said indicia means is inthe shape of a bar and said detectable characteristic of each bar is thecolor thereof.
 36. The invention according to claim 35 wherein each baris one of three colors, a transition from a bar of a first color to abar of a second color, from a bar of said second color to a bar of saidthird color, and from a bar of said third color to a bar of said firstcolor being indicative of the binary digit ''''1,'''' and a transitionfrom a bar of said third color to a bar of said second color, from a barof said second color to a bar of said first color, and from a bar ofsaid first color to a bar of said third color being indicative of thebinary digit ''''0.''''
 37. The invention according to claim 36 whereinone of said three colors is the background color of said record memberhaving said color bars thereon.